Growing up in a small town was not going to deny him of his dream to play major collegiate football and, perhaps, a chance to play in the NFL. If anything, it inspired him even more to make his dream a reality.

Part one of his dream was accomplished when Risner signed to play football at Kansas State during his senior year of high school. Despite playing at a class 1A school, he proved himself to be one of the top prospects in the entire state.

Following a redshirt season his first year on campus, Risner accomplished the second part of his football dream. He was the starting center for the Wildcats and earned All-Big 12 freshman honors in 2015. Before his redshirt-sophomore season last year, he was asked to move to right tackle. The transition went well for him. Now, he has been named to the 2017 Preseason All-Big 12 Football Team and a Fourth-Team Athlon Sports All-American.

Recently, the 6-5, 300-pound tackle was back in Wiggins with his younger brother, Kaeson, and helping his father, Mitch, with the Wiggins High School football team's scrimmages against Olathe and Prospect Ridge Academy, coaching up some of the players on the offensive and defensive line in between plays.

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The Fort Morgan Times spoke to Risner about the upcoming season at Kansas State, thoughts on a football future after college, and his role in Wiggins leading up to the start of the college football season.

Q: How has your summer been and how is the preparation for the upcoming season going?

A: It's going really good. Summer has been great, it's been my fourth summer at K-state and I'm feeling like a veteran. I have gotten good work in with the guys and enjoyed being around each other. We have worked really hard and gotten closer this summer.

Q: Last year you made the switch from center to tackle. Were you expecting this switch or did it come as a bit of a surprise?

A: It was a complete surprise. I've played center my whole life. I didn't know how to kick slide and all that you have to do as a tackle. I didn't think I could do it. We had just graduated some big tackles (the year before) and it just worked out when they needed it to. My coach came up to me and said, "Dalton you're a competitor I want to see you at right tackle." So during some 7-on-7 drills I worked there. After practice he said "you'll be my all-Big 12 right tackle." He believed in me. From there on out that's what I was meant to be.

Q: Now that you have a full year under your belt at tackle, do you feel like you are more comfortable at the position and can have an even bigger year?

A: Most definitely, but I don't want to get ahead. I know I have a lot of work to do. I went in last year and didn't get a live look at another team early but I felt I had a great season. There is still a lot of work and for the last 6-9 months we haven't been playing I've gotten a lot better. I'm more comfortable and I know this season I'm at right tackle. I've got big expectations for this season.

Q: What have you enjoyed the most about your time at Kansas State so far?

A: I would say the memories I've been making with my teammates. Playing football is great, the fan base, accolades, school, and all of that is nice, but when you hear from graduates that they miss mixing up with the guys the most, it shows. I have so many great friends and relationships here. We have done so much together. We have won and lost games together. I think the relationships have been tremendous.

Q: You recently were down at Big 12 Media Days representing the school. Talk a little bit about that experience and what it has been like the past couple of years being there?

A: It's really fun and a chance to get some love from linemen. Normally you only hear and talk about the quarterbacks, running backs and players like that, so it's fun to get in front of camera and hear me speak. I've been a two-year captain so I've gotten to go the past couple summers. It's been fun to get all the teams together. We do have a lot of fun and serious stuff. We get to talk to other players and coaches from other teams. They have done it at some cool facilities. This year was at Frisco practice facility so we got to meet (Dallas Cowboys' owner) Jerry Jones and people like that. You get to talk all day. The people want to know about the season and see what the conference will do.

Q: This year, the Big 12 conference will return to playing a championship game, despite having just 10 schools. Do you think this is a big and necessary change the conference needed to make?

A: It's really big, especially with the playoffs. The other conferences' have that extra shot to get in with a championship game and that helps them, even for bowl games. We've had to share titles and the playoff committee looks at it and says they don't really know who is the best in that conference. It's nice to prove who is the best again. I think it's huge and we are excited for it.

Q: Last year at Kansas State you also had your younger brother, Kaeson, join the team. How much do you enjoy having him there and on the same team with you again?

A: Its been awesome having him here. Kaeson and I are great friends. He's worked really hard coming in as a tight end. That's every family's dream to have two kids on same team at a place like Kansas State. Grind it out with him and spend time with him. I hoping this year or next year we can get him on the edge next to me, hopefully.

Q: Kansas State rose from 8th in the conference standings in 2015 to fourth last year. Is this team capable of taking another jump and moving towards competing for a conference title in 2017?

A: I do. We are always underrated. We had some injuries but we knew we were going to have a good year. We have so many guys coming back. There are a few guys we lost, but at the end of the day, we have guys that can replace them. It's a great opportunity to be similar to last year and be better. We want to be in Dallas for that Big 12 Championship game.

Q: Now that you have been a two-year starter and are receiving plenty of accolades for your play on the field, have there been some thoughts about your future in football at the next level?

A: It's something I've always been thinking about since a kid. The ultimate dream to be in the green room and be a first-round pick. Some call that dream lofty, but I'm not giving up on it until I get there. It's all about the process. You can't look too far ahead, so I'm just trying to be best player I can be and work hard knowing that the next level will come. I'm thinking about it in the near future and am excited about it. I hope to continue my football career after college and we'll see when that day comes.

Q: In many interviews you've done since playing at Kansas State, you've talked about how much it means to represent Wiggins, your hometown. What makes Wiggins such a meaningful place to you?

A: I always tell people that I'm proud to be from here. This community has supported me. Not many kids come from small town and play at the next level, and especially don't get drafted into the NFL. I'm proud to come from a small school. It's a really great community and where my family is from, so it will always home for me. Football Friday is what the town is all about in the fall.

Q: You were recently back and helped out some with the team's summer camp and scrimmages last week. How important is it to you to come back, help out, and serve as that inspiration for the kids today?

A: That's something I've always dreamed about. I'm proud kids look up to me and glad I can help them. I know when I was younger I would have loved a college kid coaching me up, so I know it's an opportunity I want to take part of. There are some great families in community I can come back and help. I want to be a head coach one day when my playing days are done, so coming back and getting that experience is great for me for that as well..

Q: Lastly, you did get a chance to play for your father, Mitch Risner, while in high school. What kind of impact has he had on your career today?

A: My father is a huge impact on where I'm at. Both of my parents have got me here to this point. My mom taught me so much about how to be a man, talk to people and things like that that are so important. And my dad has believed in me since day one and pushed me to reach my dreams. Every time it got hard, my dad kept me going. When I didn't think I was going to have a chance to go at the next level, he would be the first to tell me I was going wherever I wanted.

Without, them I would not be here. That was just the beginning. Since then, they still have been helpful to me.

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